All signs point to trouble for this Seahawks veteran heading into camp

The 2025 Seattle Seahawks are built in a way that means the defense is going to be the driving force behind how successful the team is. Nearly every player on that side of the ball returns, and general manager John Schneider was so satisfied with what he saw in 2024, he spent only two of the team's 11 2025 draft picks on defensive players.

Schneider did sign veteran DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency, though, and his versatility might cause players previously on Seattle's roster to have to fight for their jobs in training camp. This includes Mike Morris, who is entering his third year in the league.

After an injury-plagued rookie season, Morris played in 15 games in 2024. Most of that time was spent on special teams, however, and the defensive lineman only received 70 snaps on defense. Morris will have to show more versatility in training camp to make the team.

Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Mike Morris could find himself out of a job soon

Part of his issue is that Seattle's top four defensive linemen are set. Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy II, and Johnathan Hankins are going to make the team. Seattle might only keep those four along the D-line, and if the Seahawks keep a fifth, it could be a true nose tackle, someone like Brandon Pili.

Morris, meanwhile, might be going up against Quinton Bohanna for a potential backup spot. Rookie Rylie Mills could be another player vying for a spot, but due to a knee injury in 2024, he is probably going to start on PUP and miss at least six games.

Morris does have one potential thing on his side. He played at Michigan, and in one of his years there, Mike Macdonald was the team's defensive coordinator. This was three years before Macdonald became the Seahawks head coach.

Seattle's defensive coordinator is Aden Durde, but he holds that role in name only. The defensive direction and play-calling belongs to Macdonald. If the head coach thinks a player better fits his scheme in a tight roster spot battle, Macdonald is going to choose that player. He knows what to expect from Morris, so that might give the Michigan product a slight lead.

But he is going to have to have a strong training camp. There is probably only one defensive line spot available, so can Morris prove he can play end and also slide inside when needed? Has he gained strength over the last two years, enough to hold up against NFL blockers? Does he have the quickness to get some interior pass rush?

Perhaps this is the season that Mike Morris breaks out for the Seattle Seahawks, but in 96 career defensive snaps, he does not have a quarterback hit or a tackle for loss, so there is no proof that he is capable of being good. He needs to show that in camp.